Clearwater Algae Scrubber

[laconic]

I am new at the hobby. The lfs said a refugium would be helpful soon. I saw the Clearwater today in a YouTube video. Does this do what a refugium does.

thanks

 

[MERKEY]

They both will remove nutrients so they have that in common.

A refugium will grow macro algeas and you can add sand, miracle mud, and some even have fish in theirs.

An algea scrubber strictly grows algea.

There are 3 big brands of scrubbers that we see now.

Clear water

Ice cap

Santa Monica

Clear water and ice cap take the same approach and use leds in a box with a drop down style curtain for the algea to grow. Clear water claims theirs are much better than other brands. It's all about the light and configuration inside the case I guess that's superior.

They also cost twice as much.

Santa Monica has multiple variations of scrubbers which all seem to work very well.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am new at the hobby. The lfs said a refugium would be helpful soon. I saw the Clearwater today in a YouTube video. Does this do what a refugium does.

thanks

Ive used scrubber several years and it IMO is more effective than refugium and reduces Nitrates very well and very easy to service.
This is one of my harvests:

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Ive used scrubber several years and it IMO is more effective than refugium and reduces Nitrates very well and very easy to service.
This is one of my harvests:

I agree they work better than a refugium depending on size and what your trying to do with either.

This reminds me of your recent thread on crazy product prices! I think cw scrubbers made the list lol.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I agree they work better than a refugium depending on size and what your trying to do with either.

This reminds me of your recent thread on crazy product prices! I think cw scrubbers made the list lol.

Yes- 2 years ago a CW-50 (smallest) was $289 and now with purple color added is almost $600 !!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Yes- 2 years ago a CW-50 (smallest) was $289 and now with purple color added is almost $600 !!

It's getting crazy, where's the ceiling to the madness!

 

[Indymann99]

It's getting crazy, where's the ceiling to the madness!

Built my own for $80.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Built my own for $80.

I too had a home built unit a few years back and your expense of $80 solidifies the question. . . Where does $600-$800 pricing get justified?

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I too had a home built unit a few years back and your expense of $80 solidifies the question. . . Where does $600-$800 pricing get justified?

You know where....no where lol